Once, some wag—maybe Mark Twain—called golf “a good walk, spoiled.” But there’s no denying the allure of the links. Striding out to the first tee on a sunny day, the anticipation of 18 individual adventures awaiting you. And even if you find yourself in the fescue more often than the fairway, you’ll indeed still have a good walk through some of the most stunning places in America. Here are six of the best golf resorts you’ll find—anywhere.
Hawaiian Beauty
Sensei Lanai Four Seasons
Rising like a vision just across a blue expanse of the Pacific from Maui, Lanai, once produced 75 percent of the world’s pineapples. Today, it’s a place that mostly makes memories—good ones, of long afternoons at the pool and, of course, some unbelievable days on the fairways. On the 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-designed Manele Golf Course at Four Seasons Resort Lanai, you’ll play on lava outcroppings, with a number of holes dancing along the edge of sea cliffs. Just don’t slice your ball—or you’ll end up right in the ocean.
California Tradition
Courtesy of Pebble Beach Resorts
One of the world’s most iconic places to play a round, the classic California-coast course at Pebble Beach Resorts welcomed its first duffers more than a century ago. Still a public course, the 18 holes on Pebble Beach Golf Links have hosted the U.S. Open an astounding half-dozen times. (Not to mention its famous Pro-Am, played here since 1947.) You can try one of several courses here, then, when you’re ready to try a different kind of drive, cruise the 17-Mile Drive. Winding past the dramatic Lone Cypress, it’ll take you through magical forests and past shimmering white-sand beaches to the boardwalk at Spanish Bay.
Southern Luxury
Sea Island
Set on a string of beautiful barrier islands in southeast Georgia, crossing the causeway from the mainland feels like a trip to another world. The Cloister, the first hotel on Sea Island, quickly attracted some of the most famous Roaring Twenties celebs, including John D Rockefeller Jr. and President Calvin Coolidge. And with three championship courses to play, Sea Island Resort is a truly amazing place for golf. All of them offer their enticements and hazards, including salt marshes, sand dunes, tidal creeks—and the mighty waves of the Atlantic—on the Seaside Golf Course.
Sonoran Adventure
Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton
Tucked into a canyon surrounding by the Tortolita Mountains, Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Arizona is a true luxury desert destination. The high Sonoran surroundings, with chaparral and towering cacti, will evoke every cowboy movie you’ve ever seen. Come here to relax in a cabana at the long, curving pools, or sit around a crackling fire. Or play the three Jack Nicklaus-designed championship courses, each comprising nine holes. The Saguaro course winds through a cactus forest, Tortolita wanders through a deep canyon, and when you tee off on Wild Burro, you’ll be distracted by its sweeping views.
Scottsdale Splendor
The Phoenician
Sitting just east of Phoenix, Scottsdale is one of America’s greatest luxury destinations. The Phoenician boasts top restaurants, resorts, and a pool complex that flows over three levels and sumptuous spa. Plus, 18 holes of amazing golf, the course providing rhythm and flow as it winds through the Sonoran Desert. If you’re looking to polish your game, this might just be the place—the director of instruction, Michael Lamanna, has been repeatedly named by Golf Digest as the best teacher of the game in Arizona. Bonus: Old Town Scottsdale, just a couple of miles away, is a pleasure to explore.
Desert Charm
Courtesy of La Quinta
The charms of nearby Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are myriad. La Quinta Resort and Club is absolutely lovely, with 41 pools and three restaurants and casitas with roaring fireplaces and hot tubs. But La Quinta is undoubtedly a true destination for serious golfers. Here, you’ll find a total of five courses laid out by three different master designers: the legendary Pete Dye, Greg Norman, and Jack Nicklaus. Among all these riches, the jewel in the crown is The Stadium Course at PGA West. Rated one of the best courses in the world, this par-72 hosts an annual PGA event, the Desert Classic.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
